"Ordinary" Iowans rally at statehouse before special session

One lawmaker called them “ordinary Iowans.” Hundreds of them have gathered at the statehouse today (Friday) to urge legislators to override Governor Tom Vilsack’s veto of a property rights bill. The bill limits the authority cities and counties have to seize private property for economic development projects. Lori Kirk of Madison County is concerned about a proposed lake that would submerge her home. “We’re here today as property owners, not radicals, just simple people scared of losing our property,” she said. Dave Ryberg of Page County is fighting against having his farmland condemned for a lake near Shenandoah. “I’m a fourth generation family farmer. Farming is my business and my heritage and a way of life for my family and me,” Ryberg says. “If this Page County lake project which is now proposed to be 6100 acres moves forward, I would lose two-thirds of my farm.” He figures he’d lose three-quarters of his income in the process. Ryberg charges that the project is “condemnation without representation” because he does not live in Shenandoah and he says it’s Shenandoah’s City Council that’s the driving force behind the lake. A lake for the Osceola area is what Kathy Kelly is fighting. “There is no available ground in Clarke County like our acreage. Our home is irreplaceable. It is part of the farm my husband grew up on,” Kelly says. “It’s our American Dream. We did not even become aware that we were slated for condemnation until a year ago this month and then only verbally by a reservoir committee member with a conscience.” Kelly made a direct appeal to lawmakers during a morning rally at the statehouse. “I ask you all to do only what you would have so done unto you because it may be you or someone you love who is under the gun in the future,” Kelly said. “The indiscriminate use of eminent domain to take other’s properties must be restricted now.” Steph Vos of Mahaska County is fighting to keep her farm from being seized to make way for an expansion of the Pella airport. Vos says they told the City of Pella they weren’t willing to sell their land and were told the ground would be “forcibly taken” with the city’s “eminent domain” power. During that morning rally at the statehouse, Vos issued this personal appeal to lawmakers to override the governor’s veto of the property rights bill. “Today is my son’s first birthday and where am I spending the day? Still fighting,” Vos said. “Do the right thing. Override this veto.” Representative Jeff Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, helped organize the rally held an hour before lawmakers convened in special session and he saluted those “ordinary Iowans” who are at the statehouse today. “Amidst their fear, their frustration, their confusion over this whole process and these political games that have been played, they’re here and I can tell you exactly what they’re here to do,” Kaufmann said. “They’re here to reclaim this capitol for the people again.”